Key messages

Effective treatment for allergic rhinitis can help you keep your asthma under control.

Find out what triggers your allergic rhinitis and asthma. Try to avoid your allergy triggers if you can.

Nasal sprays that contain corticosteroids (a type of anti-inflammatory medicine) are the most effective treatments available for allergic rhinitis.

People who have both asthma and allergic rhinitis should use both a preventer nasal spray and an asthma preventer inhaler regularly.

Nasal sprays are most effective when used correctly. Visit our How-to video library for step-by-step instructions and demonstrations.

Don’t smoke and avoid other people’s cigarette smoke. Smoke can make allergic rhinitis and asthma worse, and can stop medicines from working effectively.

Tell your doctor if you take any medicines for allergic rhinitis.

You may need to see a specialist if you have severe allergies (such as food allergies or severe skin rashes), symptoms that are not typical of allergic rhinitis (such as a constantly blocked or bleeding nose just on one side), or if your symptoms are not getting better with medication.

Allergic rhinitis facts

Allergic rhinitis is a medical condition caused by allergy to substances breathed in the air.

Most people with allergic rhinitis are allergic to house dust mites, pets, pollen or moulds, or a combination of these. Allergic rhinitis is sometimes called ‘hay fever’ when it occurs during the times of year when there are a lot of pollens in the air.

The allergic reaction makes the inside of the nose irritated, swollen and abnormally sensitive (inflamed). It also affects the back of the mouth and the throat. A person with rhinitis may have a blocked or runny nose, and may experience itching or soreness in the nose, throat and eyes.

Allergic rhinitis can also disturb sleep and cause problems with concentration at work or school.

Approximately 15% of Australians have allergic rhinitis, but it is even more common among people with asthma. At least three out of four people with asthma also have allergic rhinitis.

Asthma and allergic rhinitis are related health conditions. People with allergic rhinitis have a higher chance of going on to develop asthma than people without allergic rhinitis.

Can allergic rhinitis make asthma worse?

Allergic rhinitis can make asthma harder to control. People with asthma who also have allergic rhinitis have more visits to hospital or emergency departments and more time off work or school than other people with asthma.

Some people find that the things that trigger their asthma will also make their allergic rhinitis worse. These could include things they are allergic to (allergens) or cold air, cigarette smoke or other irritating fumes.

Effective treatment for allergic rhinitis may reduce the chance of severe asthma attacks, and make the lungs work better.

What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?

Most people with allergic rhinitis have a blocked or runny nose. Some also have sneezing and itching in the nose and back of throat. Allergic rhinitis can also may the eyes itchy, red and teary. Not everyone with allergic rhinitis has all these symptoms.

People with asthma may not recognise that they also have allergic rhinitis, because the symptoms can be mistaken for asthma. For this reason, Australian and international guidelines for doctors recommend that people with asthma should be checked for allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis can occur all year round, or just at certain times of year.

Allergic rhinitis symptoms

You don't have to have all these symptoms to have allergic rhinitis:

Itchy, runny or blocked nose

Itchy or watery eyes

Sneezing

Always feeling like you have a head cold

Frequent sore throats

Hoarse voice

Breathing through the mouth

Snoring

Facial pain or pressure

Frequent headaches

Repeatedly getting middle ear infections

Constantly coughing to clear the throat or soon after lying down to sleep

Bad breath

Sleeping badly or being tired during the day

Breathing problems even when your asthma is well

How do doctors diagnose allergic rhinitis?

When assessing whether someone has allergic rhinitis, doctors consider symptoms, find out about the person’s everyday environment, do a physical examination, check asthma control and check for allergies.

Tell your doctor:

When your symptoms started and whether they have become better or worse over time

Whether you usually have symptoms at particular times of the year

If anything or any places seem to make symptoms better or worse

If you have any known allergic conditions (including asthma due to allergies, skin allergies) and whether family members have allergies

If you have tried any medicines, such as overthe-counter nasal sprays or tablets, and whether they made a difference.

Your doctor may:

Measure how well your lungs are working, using a spirometer, or arrange for you to have this test. If you normally test your own lungs using a peak flow meter each day, bring your results.

Offer allergy tests – either skin-prick tests or blood tests – or arrange for you to have these tests done by a specialist. Other methods that claim to test for allergy (e.g. cytotoxic food testing, kinesiology, Vega testing, pulse testing, reflexology and hair analysis) are not useful tests and should not be used.

Suggest that you try using a nasal spray for a few weeks and come back.

Refer you to an allergy specialist or an ear, nose and throat surgeon.

You may need to see a specialist if you have any symptoms that are not typical of allergic rhinitis, such as long-term sinus problems, polyps in the nose, pain, loss of hearing or sense of smell, persistent cough, or if only one nostril is always blocked or bleeding.

What is the best treatment for allergic rhinitis?

Corticosteroid nasal sprays

Nasal sprays that contain medicines that reduce inflammation in the lining of the nose (corticosteroids) are the most effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays are effective for controlling itching and sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, and eye symptoms (itching or wateriness). Most people with allergic rhinitis will benefit from using these medicines.

Some corticosteroid nasal sprays are available from pharmacies without a prescription. Stronger versions are also available on prescription. Your doctor can advise which is best for you.

For best results, these medications are taken regularly and long term, just like preventers for asthma.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays for allergic rhinitis have a good safety record, including in children and in people of all ages.

It can take up to 2 weeks before the medicine becomes fully effective. Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest that you also use another medicine for a short time to relieve your symptoms quicker.

People who experience allergic rhinitis symptoms throughout the year may need to continue treatment indefinitely. Most people with allergic rhinitis will need to continue treatment for at least several months at a time.

Getting the most from your nasal spray

If you take any type of nasal spray, read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow the directions to make sure you get the most benefit.

Sniff hard after spraying (the medicine ends up in your throat instead of your nose)

Use a saline rinse after using the medicine.

Other medicines

Antihistamine nasal sprays (available over the counter) can provide quick relief of itching and sneezing, and may help with blocked nose. They can be used in addition to a corticosteroid nasal spray.

Antihistamine tablets (available over the counter) are effective for controlling itching and sneezing, but they are less effective for clearing a blocked nose. Avoid the older type of antihistamines that cause sleepiness.

Some people with mild allergic rhinitis just use these medicines. Others use them in combination with corticosteroid nasal sprays when they need extra control. For example, someone who is allergic to pollens may take antihistamine tablets during springtime. Someone who is allergic to pets may take them before visiting a friend’s house where there are pets.

Decongestant nasal sprays and decongestant tablets are used to unblock the nose. These should never be taken for more than a few days at a time.

Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest other medicines.

Other things you can do

Saline rinses: Your doctor may recommend that you use a salt water (saline) solution daily to help clear your nose and soothe the lining of the nose. Syringes and rinse bottles are available from pharmacies.

Avoid smoke: People with allergic rhinitis should not smoke and should avoid other people’s cigarette smoke. Smoking makes asthma and rhinitis worse, and can prevent medicines from working properly. Bushfires and wood smoke may also worsen allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Avoid allergens: Your doctor can help you work out which allergens trigger your allergic rhinitis and asthma. Try to avoid your allergy triggers if you can. See Avoiding allergens for tips.

Before taking any medication for allergic rhinitis, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist if:

you have any other medical conditions or are pregnant

you are taking any other medicines (including over-the-counter medicines or complementary medicines)

you have been experiencing nose bleeds.

I’m pregnant – can I take allergic rhinitis medicines?

If your allergic rhinitis is troublesome, or if effective treatment for your allergic rhinitis helps control your asthma symptoms, your doctor might recommend that you take medicine while you are pregnant.

If you discover that you are pregnant while using medicines for allergic rhinitis, tell your doctor straight away.

Some corticosteroid nasal sprays have a good safety rating during pregnancy. Most allergic rhinitis medicines have no particular safety concerns for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking any medicines when you are pregnant.

How is allergic rhinitis treated in children?

Some corticosteroid nasal sprays can be used in children as young as 2 years.

Antihistamine tablets can be used for children with mild allergic rhinitis or young children who will not tolerate nasal sprays. Some can be taken by children as young as 12 months. Only newer antihistamines, which cause less sleepiness, should be given to children.

Montelukast tablets are effective for some children.

Your doctor may recommend other medicines.

Follow-up

After you have begun any allergic rhinitis treatment, tell your doctor so that your allergic rhinitis can be checked whenever you have a check-up.

You may need to visit a specialist or doctor with expertise in allergy if:

your symptoms are severe or are not getting better with treatment

you think you may have to change jobs or move house to improve your allergic rhinitis

the diagnosis is not certain.

Avoiding allergens

The most common allergens for people with allergic rhinitis are pollens, house dust mite, pets, moulds and cockroaches.

There is no point attempting to avoid allergens unless a doctor has confirmed that you are allergic to these and that they are causing your allergic rhinitis or asthma.

More information about how to avoid allergens is available from the website of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (www.allergy.org.au).

Pollens

The amount of pollen in the air outside is highest in the morning, on windy days and after thunderstorms. The times of year when pollens are most likely to worry you depend on where you live. People who are allergic to pollen from grasses, weeds or trees usually have worse allergic rhinitis in spring and summer. In tropical northern regions of Australia, pollens can be in the air all year round.

Some people avoid going outdoors on days with high pollen counts or after thunderstorms. Avoid hanging washing outside on windy days during pollen seasons.

Some experts overseas recommend sealing doors and windows, and wearing face masks or goggles outside to avoid pollens. These are usually not practical in Australia, but a mask might be useful in special situations, such as when driving a tractor during harvest.

Use your nasal spray or antihistamine tablets before going outdoors when you cannot avoid pollens, and keep your asthma reliever and allergic rhinitis medication with you at all times.

House dust mite

House dust mites are very common in humid areas of Australia. People who are allergic to house dust mites usually have allergic rhinitis throughout the whole year.

Several different strategies have been tried for reducing dust mite in bedrooms, including washing bedding in hot water, covering mattresses and pillows in mite-proof cases, sprays to kill mites, vacuum cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and home dehumidifiers.

A combination of these might help reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms, but involves a lot of work and expense. Used on its own, none of these has been proven to improve allergic rhinitis or asthma, even though it may reduce the number of mites.

Pets

If you are allergic to a pet and you must continue to live in the same household, keep it outside and never let it in the bedroom. You may not be able to control your symptoms properly if the pet remains in your house. Frequently washing pets does not make you less allergic to them and may harm them.

After removal of a pet from your home, clean the walls, floors and carpet thoroughly, because the particles that cause allergy stick to clothes and surfaces, and remain there long after the pet has gone. Your allergic symptoms may not improve even after you remove the pet.

If you know that you are allergic to certain pets, ask friends to keep them outside when you visit, and take your medication before you go.

What is immunotherapy (desensitising therapy)?

Specific allergen immunotherapy (desensitisation) is an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis in some people and can achieve lasting relief from symptoms.

Your doctor might suggest immunotherapy if your allergic rhinitis is mainly due to one allergen that you cannot avoid. It can only be prescribed by an allergy specialist.

Treatment must be continued for 3–5 years.

Oral and injectable forms of immunotherapy are available in Australia. Oral immunotherapy involves daily treatment at home. Injectable immunotherapy involves weekly to monthly injections. Side effects can occur, but serious allergic reactions are rare. It is unsafe for people with severe or poorly controlled asthma.

Although all care has been taken, this brochure is only a general guide; it is not a substitute for individual medical advice/treatment. The National Asthma Council Australia expressly disclaims all responsibility (including negligence) for any loss, damage or personal injury resulting from reliance on the information contained.

For Health Professionals

A corresponding version of this brochure has been developed for Health Professionals and may be downloaded here.

Acknowledgements

Developed by the National Asthma Council Australia in consultation with an expert panel of allergy and asthma clinicians.

Funded by a grant from MSD Australia. Apart from providing a financial grant MSD has not been involved in the development, recommendation, review or editing of this publication.

Disclaimer

Although all care has been taken, this brochure is only a general guide; it is not a substitute for individual medical advice/treatment. The National Asthma Council Australia expressly disclaims all responsibility (including negligence) for any loss, damage or personal injury resulting from reliance on the information contained.

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